Adaptively controlled footwear

Abstract

A method for controlling footwear, comprising cushioning a transient force during use of the footwear at a first period of a gait cycle, storing energy from said cushioning, and releasing the stored energy during use of the footwear at a second period of the gait cycle, and after said transient force has subsided. The control can be electronic, mechanical or hydraulic, and is preferably dependent on a sensed gait cycle phase. The control may be adaptive to the user or the use of the footwear. The stored energy can be used to assist in locomotion, to generate electrical energy, to drive a heat pump, or simply dissipated.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An article of footwear, comprising:
 (a) an energy absorbing structure, for cushioning the wearer from a transient force generated during use of the footwear at a first time; 
 (b) an energy storage structure, for storing potential energy absorbed by said energy absorbing structure; and 
 (c) a control, for selectively controlling a release of energy from said energy storage structure at a second time, delayed from said first time, said second time being independent of an uncontrolled natural response of said energy absorbing structure, said control receiving an input estimating an amount of energy stored in said energy storage structure. 
 
     
     
       2. The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein said control controls a release of energy from said energy storage structure to assist in the user's gait. 
     
     
       3. The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein said energy absorbing structure comprises a fluid-filled chamber. 
     
     
       4. The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein said energy storage structure comprises a compliant fluidic chamber, wherein an increase in volume corresponds to an increase in energy storage. 
     
     
       5. The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein said control modulates a magnetic field to control release of energy from said energy storage chamber. 
     
     
       6. The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , further comprising a fail safe release to release energy stored in said energy storage chamber independent of said control, prior to a recurrence of said transient force. 
     
     
       7. The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein said control comprises a mechanical sequence generator. 
     
     
       8. The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein said control comprises an electronic sequence generator. 
     
     
       9. The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein said control comprises a hydraulic sequence generator. 
     
     
       10. The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , further comprising a heat pump, drawing energy from said energy absorbing structure, for altering a temperature of said footwear. 
     
     
       11. The article of footwear according to  claim 10 , wherein heat pump cools said footwear. 
     
     
       12. The article of footwear according to  claim 10 , wherein heat pump heats said footwear. 
     
     
       13. The article of footwear according to  claim 10 , wherein said energy absorbing structure compresses a gas-liquid phase change refrigerant. 
     
     
       14. The article of footwear according to  claim 10 , wherein said energy storage structure releases a compressed working fluid. 
     
     
       15. The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein said energy absorbing structure comprises at least two structures, each structure having a separately controlled energy absorption profile to provide differential control over cushioning for different parts of the foot the wearer. 
     
     
       16. The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein a transient response of said footwear is selectively controlled during said first time. 
     
     
       17. The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein said control comprises an electrically controllable valve. 
     
     
       18. The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein said control comprises a sensor for sensing a compression of said energy absorbing structure. 
     
     
       19. The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein said control estimates a gait cycle phase. 
     
     
       20. The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein said control comprises a memory for storing at least one representation of a condition of operation, and is adaptive over time to changing conditions of operation with respect to the at least one condition of operation represented in the memory. 
     
     
       21. The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein said control draws operational energy from said energy absorbing structure. 
     
     
       22. The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , further comprising a footwear fit adjustment element, wherein the control is adapted to tighten a static fit of the footwear with increased levels of user activity. 
     
     
       23. The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the control releases energy such that a lateral stability of the footwear is dynamically controlled. 
     
     
       24. A method for controlling footwear, comprising the steps of:
 (a) cushioning a transient force during use of the footwear at a first period of a gait cycle; 
 (b) storing energy from said cushioning; and 
 (c) releasing the stored energy during use of the footwear at a second period of the gait cycle, and after said transient force has subsided, 
 at least one of said storing and releasing steps being dependent on an estimated state of an energy storage element. 
 
     
     
       25. The method according to  claim 24 , further comprising the step of releasing the energy to assist in the gait cycle. 
     
     
       26. The method according to  claim 24 , wherein said releasing step delays a timing of said releasing in a manner adaptive to a use of the footwear. 
     
     
       27. The method according to  claim 24 , wherein said releasing is further dependent on a sensed phase of a user's gait cycle. 
     
     
       28. The method according to  claim 24 , further comprising the step of adapting said cushioning based on a use of the footwear. 
     
     
       29. An article of footwear, comprising:
 (a) an energy absorbing structure, for cushioning the wearer from a transient force generated during use of the footwear at a first time; 
 (b) an energy storage structure, for storing at least a portion of an energy associated with said transient force absorbed by said energy absorbing structure and controllably exerting a force on the wearer at a time delayed from said transient force; and 
 (c) an adaptive programmable control, for dynamically controlling a release of energy from said energy storage structure at a second time, delayed from said first time, back through the energy absorbing structure to the wearer, said second time being controlled separately from a natural response of said energy absorbing structure, whereby the footwear provides an adaptively controlled rebound. 
 
     
     
       30. An article of footwear, comprising:
 (a) an energy absorbing structure, for cushioning the wearer from a transient force generated during use of the footwear; 
 (b) an energy storage structure, for storing potential energy absorbed by said energy absorbing structure; and 
 (c) a control, for selectively controlling, over time, at least a release of energy from said energy storage structure after the transient force, independently of a natural response of said energy absorbing structure, wherein the release of energy dynamically controls a lateral stability of the footwear. 
 
     
     
       31. An article of footwear, comprising:
 (a) an energy absorbing structure, for cushioning the wearer from a transient force generated during use of the footwear at a first time; 
 (b) an energy storage structure, for storing potential energy absorbed by said energy absorbing structure; 
 (c) a gait cycle phase sensor; and 
 (c) a control, for selectively controlling release of energy from said energy storage structure at a second time, delayed from said first time, said release being controlled at least in part based on the sensed gait cycle phase. 
 
     
     
       32. The article of footwear according to  claim 31 , wherein said control controls a delay between said first time and said second time based at least in part on a gait cycle phase of the wearer. 
     
     
       33. The article of footwear according to  claim 31 , wherein said sensor senses a compression of said energy absorbing structure. 
     
     
       34. An article of footwear, comprising:
 (a) an energy absorbing structure, for cushioning the wearer from a transient force generated during use of the footwear at a first time; 
 (b) an energy storage structure, for storing potential energy absorbed by said energy absorbing structure; 
 (c) a footwear fit adjustment element; and 
 (c) a control, for selectively releasing energy from said energy storage structure at a second time, delayed from said first time, said second time being controlled independently of a natural response of said energy absorbing structure, wherein the control alters the footwear fit adjustment element to adjust a static fit of the footwear with varying levels of user activity.